A. I ask myself, “Is there something I can learn from this to become better at expressing what I want to say?” I’ve had a fellow author throw digs at me live in a panel discussion before. That’s tougher than just facing a piece of text or printed opinion. I had to respond live. Granted, we’re human, and the initial reaction is to feel wounded and angry. There’s too much anger and hurt in this world, though. Maybe I can’t control what people write or say, but I can control how I react to it. If I choose not to let feelings of anger or hurt stay and instead turn my focus onto “is there a valid point I can learn from here, or is this just someone striking out because they are immature or have been hurt angered themselves?” then I find I can turn the lemon into lemonade, ignoring those I need to ignore and learning from those I can learn from.

A. Good reviews are manna from heaven! It makes you feel all the isolation, hard work, and pain has been worth it. Someone “gets” you! Be aware, though that real “good” reviews, those not paid for, and not part of a “me-too” pop-culture infused frenzy, are hard to come by. A ton of people tell me, “I loved your books!” When I ask them to leave me a review, they say; “Sure!” About 1 in 25 actually do. Even then, it’s sometimes hard to keep reviews on your site. Some sites “retire” reviews after so many months, or when you refresh a cover or come out with a new edition. Good authors are ever in search of good reviews. Make sure you take time to celebrate them and appreciate them when you get them!

A. I have various series lines that will have connection. “Cryptic Spaces” is winding down and I have several other series projects in the works. I also have some books in the works which will be stand alone.

A. I’d love to write every day, but I also have a family to feed and house, and unfortunately, that means writing gets relegated to a “side gig” (about 6-8 hours per week). Hoping to close a film deal sometime in the near future, and maybe that will allow this to change, but most authors I know are not able to make a living solely from their book sales—at least, not out of the gate (especially in today’s world where 95% of online sales are digital and net the author around 0.87 cents per sale).

A. If you want your writing to be real, I believe you must write from what you know. Your work does not have to be biographical to tie into your personal life. There are threads that are you, your personal perspective, the people you know, the interactions you’ve had with your world. I thought I was doing a great job of masking these threads until my wife and kids started pointing out all the bits of me they could identify. I would say maybe 35% of my writing comes from direct personal experience, and 65% comes from my highly active world of imagination.

A. I have offered free books, but eventually, that’s just not profitable. I’ve tried newsletters and blogs, and those have not been very effective for me. I run a Facebook group called “Observations Inc.” that ties into my series where I offer contests and breaking news but can’t say I’ve been able to stay consistent enough at it to feel it has been effective. The most valuable tools for me have been public speaking engagements, ComicCon or other themed show appearances, book shows, and panel discussions. These can be costly, but they are a great way to reach readers.

A. I have so many, it’s hard to know where to start. Emily Bronte, not so much for her prose (which I think are brilliant) but also because her life fascinates me. She lived in such a bleak area, a life that seems, from the outside, to have been bland, if not austere. She appeared to experience little in the way of romance or intrigue, yet, her prose are thrillingly untamed, reckless, and mysterious. I am certain her presence and conversation would be, if anything, stimulating. I also love Ray Bradbury. I had the opportunity of meeting Ray a couple of times in person and know that there’s never a dull moment in that brilliant imagination of his. He was my first author-hero as a boy. I devoured “The Martian Chronicles,” and “The Golden Apples of the Sun,” and “The October Country.” I went to bed at nights with “Dandelion Wine” and “Fahrenheit 451” tucked under my pillow. I also love J.K. Rowling, arguably one the finest authors currently alive. Her characters and settings created a world that is fun and adventurous, yet real and wholly believable in the context of the angst of youth. I so admire her ability to playfully capture both the foibles and fantasies of our human condition, weaving them onto such imaginative grand fabrics.

A. No. When the story is on paper, it is a living thing. That said, one of the benefits of the publishing world is that, if someone points out a type-o or inconsistency to you, you can fix the issue and upload a new print file easily enough.

A. I found early that I lived in multiple worlds—one physically, the others in my mind. If I wanted to share those so people could understand me, I had to be able to write well enough to bring them in. I also had several great English teachers who encouraged and supported me in my writing journey. One wrote to me: “Words are your friends.” That was the best description I can possibly give as to why I am a writer. I want to introduce you to my friends.